"For nearly thirty years we've been having this discussion, asking the question: do violent movies, music or video games make people violent? Well according to Brad Bushman and Craig Anderson of Iowa State University, yes. Based on the results of their research they concluded in 2001 that video games and violent media can make people aggressive and violent. Based upon their data and their conclusions, however, it's safe to say that photos of snakes, crispy bacon, or a particularly rigorous game of chess can also make people aggressive and violent." And politicians?

I think the problem with the whole violent game debate is they treat it in the same way that some people argue all drugs are equally bad.

Violent games can desensitise some kids to violence. That doesn't automatically make them violent. It just means if they were already violent, they might become more violent as they're less sensitised to it. But then a lack of disciplining said child can also make them more violent and more violence will in turn desensitise them to violence.

It's a bit like someone who smokes a bit of weed at the weekend isn't the same as someone who injects heroin daily and how smoking cannabis doesn't automatically mean you're spirally towards a lifetime of heroin abuse.

Different people react to different stimuli differently and it's up to the parents to judge what their children are mature enough to handle some of the more adult content containing within some computer games.

Sadly though, "not all children are equal" and "let the parents judge what's best for their kids[i]" aren't as attention grabbing headlines as "[i]violent games make people violent".